Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is one of the most diverse of Tanzania’s national parks, a tiny (325 square kilometres/125 square miles) combination of Rift Valley soda lake, dense woodlands and steep mountainside. The Park was established specifically to protect the elephant herds that have made the area world-renowned. Known for its elephants and tree-climbing lions, Lake Manyara is also excellent for flamingo spotting and other fascinating birds in and around the soda lake.

The Park also features a ground-water forest, Acacia Tortilis woodland and hot springs called “Maji Moto”. Lake Manyara National Park is a birding paradise (more than 400 species), particularly for waterfowl and migrants, and the forests are famous for lion sightings. Lions hunt on the grassy shores of the Lake, and are known for their habit of climbing and lounging in trees.The Park was once favoured by big game hunters. Today the wildlife is protected, and includes blue and vervet monkeys, baboons, Maasai giraffe and impala.